Sheet finishing apparatus and control method

Abstract

A sheet finishing apparatus includes an inlet roller to receive a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, a sheet introduction unit to guide the sheet received by the inlet roller to a finishing unit, a sheet ejection unit to guide the sheet performed to a post process by the finishing unit to an ejection port and to eject from the ejection port, a paper storage tray to receive the ejected sheet, a drive unit including a plurality of motors to drive respective devices, and a control unit to control operations of the plurality of motors. In a trial operation of the sheet finishing apparatus, the control unit controls the plurality of motors, and first drives a motor with a sound pressure level less than a previously set reference level.

1. A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising:
 an inlet roller to receive a sheet; 
 a sheet introduction unit configured to align the sheet received by the inlet roller; 
 a finishing unit configured to perform finishing on the sheet conveyed by the sheet introduction unit; 
 a sheet ejection unit configured to guide the sheet to an ejection port and to eject the sheet from the ejection port; 
 a storage tray that receives the sheet ejected from the ejection port; 
 a drive unit configured to drive a plurality of motors between the inlet roller and the storage tray; and 
 a control unit configured to control the drive unit during a state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein, to drive a first motor, and then other motors having sound pressure levels higher than a sound pressure level of the first motor. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is the motor to drive the inlet roller. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the sheet introduction unit includes a processing tray to guide the aligned sheet to the finishing unit, and a paddle to guide the sheet supplied via the inlet roller onto the processing tray, 
 the sheet ejection unit includes a conveyor belt to guide the sheet from the processing tray to the ejection port, and 
 the control unit first drives the first motor to drive the inlet roller, and then drives a motor to drive the storage tray, a motor to drive the conveyor belt, and a motor to drive the paddle alternatively, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein
 the finishing unit is a stapler to staple the sheet, 
 the sheet introduction unit further includes a lateral alignment plate to laterally align the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction, and 
 the control unit drives a motor to move the stapler when the conveyor belt is driven, and drives a motor to drive the lateral alignment plate when the storage tray is driven. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit first drives the first motor having a shortest operation time and having the sound pressure levels less than a previously set reference level, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first motor is the motor to drive the inlet roller. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit first drives the first motor, having the sound pressure levels less than a previously set reference level, to drive a device which is not seen from outside of the sheet finishing apparatus, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first motor is the motor to drive the inlet roller. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit first drives a motor to drive the inlet roller, and then drives a motor to drive another device, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit drives the plurality of motors having the sound pressure levels less than the previously set reference level before the storage tray is driven, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein
 the sheet introduction unit includes a standby tray to receive the sheet conveyed from the inlet roller before the sheet is laterally aligned, and a pusher to hold the sheet on the standby tray, and 
 the control unit simultaneously drives a motor to drive the storage tray and a motor to drive the pusher, during the state when the sheet finishing apparatus has no sheet conveyed therein. 
 
     
     
       12. A control method of a sheet finishing apparatus, comprising:
 in a normal mode in which a sheet is conveyed and is performed to finishing, 
 receiving the sheet by an inlet roller; 
 aligning the sheet, which is received by the inlet roller, by a sheet introduction unit and guiding to a finishing unit; 
 guiding the sheet performed to the finishing to an ejection port by a sheet ejection unit; and 
 receiving the sheet ejected from the ejection port by a storage tray, and 
 in a no sheet state in which no sheet is conveyed in the sheet finishing apparatus, 
 driving a plurality of motors between the inlet roller and the storage tray by a drive unit, wherein the driving includes first driving a first motor, and then driving other motors having sound pressure levels higher than a sound pressure level of the first motor. 
 
     
     
       13. The control method of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet roller is first driven during the no sheet state. 
     
     
       14. The control method of  claim 13 , wherein
 the finishing unit is a stapler, 
 the sheet introduction unit includes a processing tray to guide the aligned sheet to the stapler, and a paddle to guide the sheet supplied via the inlet roller onto the processing tray, 
 the sheet ejection unit includes a conveyor belt to guide the sheet from the processing tray to the ejection port, and 
 the inlet roller is first driven, and then, the storage tray, the conveyor belt and the paddle are alternatively driven, during the no sheet state. 
 
     
     
       15. The control method of  claim 14 , wherein
 the sheet introduction unit further includes a lateral alignment plate to laterally align the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction, and 
 the stapler is moved at a time of driving of the conveyor belt, and the lateral alignment plate is driven at a time of driving of the storage tray. 
 
     
     
       16. The control method of  claim 12 , wherein among the plurality of motors, the first motor to drive a device whose movement is not seen from outside is first driven, and then, a motor to drive another device is driven, during the no sheet state. 
     
     
       17. The control method of  claim 16 , wherein before the storage tray is driven, another device is driven, during the no sheet state. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sound absorbing material attached to a noise passage connected to the ejection port. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein
 the sound absorbing material includes a first sound absorbing material attached to a noise reflecting surface of the sheet ejection unit, and a second sound absorbing material attached to surround a periphery of the finishing unit on an opposite side to the ejection port. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover that covers a lower part of the inlet roller and having a plurality of holes, and 
 a third sound absorbing material attached to a surface of the cover facing the ejection port.